** I do not own Ranma 1/2. That masterpiece is the property of Rumiko Takahashi. **
Ranma stood at the edge of the dock, his parents and the Tendo family behind him. He looked across the ocean to the horizon. His thoughts were driving back to Miyuki. Why wouldn't she stay? What would she need to sort out? I thought we said it all without words. Was she just using me? I don't understand.
Ryoga and Ukyo approached the group. Ryoga waved, "Hey guys. We're here." He greeted them. Ukyo was holding Ryoga's arm, looking quite content with herself.
Ranma turned to see his friends. "Hey guys. Just waiting on Shampoo and Mousse."
Suddenly, both Shampoo and Mousse arrived. "Nihao, Ranma!" She called. Mousse just waved without expression.
The group came together on the dock and prepared themselves to depart. Nodoka gave her son a long hug. "I know you'll come back a full man, son. Even if something goes wrong, I know you'll do us proud either way. Take care of your father." She told him.
Ranma nodded. "I will, Mom. We will see you soon."
Ranma boarded the boat. Shampoo and Mousse followed, then Akane. Ryoga boarded next and then turned to extend his hand to help Ukyo onto the boat.
"Ukyo? You're coming with us?" Ranma asked.
Ukyo nodded. "I'm not letting you lose Ryoga out there. Too risky. I need him to come back. Konatsu is tending the restaurant while we are away. Besides, I brought my grill!" Ukyo smirked.
Genma chuckled, as he boarded the boat. "Chefs are always welcome! My stomach thanks you in advance."
Ranma rolled his eyes at his father.
Nodoka and Soun waved from the dock as the boat started to sail away.
Nodoka called out, "Stay safe!"
Sounds followed with, "Take care of each other!"
The journey to China was long, mostly boring but full of excitement and anxiety. They took a larger boat this time around, due to the size of the group that were coming along this time.
Ryoga sat on the side of the boat with his arm around Ukyo, as she snuggled into his side. Ranma approached and sat on the other side of Ukyo. "Hey guys." He greeted.
Ukyo smiled up at her friend. "Hey Ran-chan! Uh, I know what this looks like and it's, uh…"
"Exactly what it looks like? Ryoga already told me." Ranma laughed. "I'm happy for you. It's fine. I want you to be happy and I don't want to keep hurting any of you. I mean, you could definitely do better than pork breath here, though."
"Thanks, Ranma. How are you going to keep insulting me when I'm cured?" Ryoga asked.
Ranma laughed. "Don't worry. There's still plenty of material to use when it comes to you."
"Now boys. Be nice." Ukyo smirked.
Ranma lifted a hand in defense. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just really happy two of my best friends found each other. It's pretty awesome, actually." Ranma smiled at them.
"When did you get so mushy, Ranma? Your girl side getting to you?" Ryoga joked.
"Aww, he's had a taste of romance and now he's trying to sprinkle it on everyone else." Ukyo joked.
"Alright. I'm out." Ranma scoffed as he got up and walked over to his father.
Ukyo and Ryoga laughed hysterically at their jokes.
Ranma rolled his eyes and sat next to his dad. "Hey, Pops."
"Ranma, my boy. Being on a boat this long with nothing but teenagers is not going to happen a third time. We better get our cures." Genma huffed.
"We will, I'm sure of it." Ranma assured him and watched as Akane went and sat in his old spot next to Ukyo. Ranma smiled thinking about how everyone had grown.
Shampoo, with Mousse following her around like a lost puppy, approached Ranma. "Airen, Shampoo hear helpless not helpless girl gone. Is no longer obstacle. Is true?" Shampoo asked him.
Ranma was really hoping no one was going to bring her up yet. "Uh.. she's.. supposed to meet us at Jusenkyo." Ranma explained.
Shampoo raised an eyebrow. "Why no come with Airen if such big obstacle?" She asked, suspiciously.
"I.. I don't know, Shampoo. I actually don't. Can we just forget about it for right now?" Ranma asked.
"Let's leave him be, Shampoo. He clearly doesn't want to talk about it." Mousse urged her.
"Stupid Mousse. You shut mouth now." Shampoo glared at him.
Akane smiled at Ryoga and Ukyo sitting happily together. "Guys, it's really nice to see you two so happy. Truly. I'm so thrilled for you two." Akane told them.
Ukyo smiled sympathetically at Akane. "It will happen for you, too, Akane. You are beautiful, funny, kind, determined.. any guy would be blessed to be with you." Ukyo let go of Ryoga so she could turn and hug her friend.
"Thanks, Ukyo. You're the best." She beamed.
Ukyo sighed. "Do you know how much longer?" She asked.
Akane shook her head. "No, it was different when I was kidnapped by the Pheonix People. We didn't exactly take a boat." She explained.
Ryoga smiled at them and then pointed at the horizon. The coast of China was slowly starting to appear.
Akane's and Ukyo's jaws dropped slightly.
"It's beautiful! Wow!" Ukyo exclaimed.
Akane nodded in agreement.
"Land ho!" Genma called out.
The gang took a similar route to Jusenkyo as they did during the previous attempt. All seemed to be going surprisingly well, which made Ranma and Ryoga very nervous.
Ukyo, while holding hands with Ryoga, looked over to Ranma. "How much longer do you think? Should we stop somewhere to eat?" she asked.
Genma heard Ukyo's suggestion and immediately found a spot in a clearing and had himself seated. Ranma rolled his eyes and directed everyone to follow him over to his father. "I'm glad you brought your grill, Ukyo. I could really go for some okonomiyaki right about now!" Ranma exclaimed.
Ryoga laughed. "I've eaten so much okonomiyaki lately, but I never get sick of it!"
Shampoo and Mousse sat with the group, slightly away from everyone. Shampoo was too proud to admit that she was hungry, but wasn't going to let the opportunity pass her by. It had been a long trek. Everyone needed nourishment before the sun was down, which did appear to be a threat in the near future. Shampoo flinched.
Mousse looked at her with worry in his eyes. "What is it, Shampoo?" Mousse asked in their native Chinese language.
Shampoo frowned and closed her eyes. She was clearly concentrating, but Mousse couldn't place what it was she was concentrating on. Shampoo's eyes shot open. "Something is watching us." She told him with complete certainty, sticking to their native language, as she could speak clearer and not alert the others.
Mousse nodded, knowing to trust her instinct. "What is watching us, Shampoo?" he asked.
Shampoo's eyes moved to look at Mousse. "I'm not sure. It feels.. Evil. Something very evil is watching us. I've never felt this before. I don't know what this is." Shampoo's eyebrows furrowed. She closed her eyes again, deep in concentration. Shampoo's head moved slightly to the right. Her eyes shot open again. "There!" she exclaimed to Mousse as she saw what looked like fire in the distance, over a large boulder. The fire almost immediately disappeared, but not before Mousse caught an glimpse of it.
Mousse looked at Shampoo with confusion. "What was that?" he asked.
Shampoo turned to look at Mousse again. "I don't know, but I think we need to tell the others. Whatever that was, it isn't here with good intentions." she said.
Mousse nodded and turned to the group. "Hey, guys? Shampoo has discovered something." he announced, having switched back to Japanese.
All eyes turned to Shampoo.
"Shampoo no see what was. Is evil is all Shampoo know. I feel that way." Shampoo had also switched back to Japanese. Shampoo pointed in the direction of the fire they briefly saw. "When Shampoo feel location, Shampoo and Mousse see fire but only for moment. Something there. Something watching." Shampoo looked very serious as she told the group the information.
"You're sure about this, Shampoo?" Ranma asked.
Shampoo nodded. "Shampoo know inside. Shampoo feel it." She insisted.
That was enough for Ranma. He immediately decided it was time to take action. He looked at his father. "Pops, you stay here with Akane and Ukyo." His father nodded, happy to keep a distance and let the youngsters figure out whatever evil was waiting for them. "Hey!" Akane and Ukyo shouted in unison. "We are more than capable of helping, Ranma! How many times do I have to prove that to you?" Akane said, infuriated.
"I know, Akane. Please, just let us go first. We don't know what is out there and this way you can protect Pops and the okonomiyaki." Ranma suggested.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Akane argued.
"Please, Akane." Ranma looked desperate. Akane's face fell. "Fine!" She crossed her arms and sat beside Ukyo.
"I will keep cooking. Hopefully it's nothing and dinner will be ready when you get back!" Ukyo smiled nervously.
Ranma forced a smile at the women. "Thank you. We will be right back, I'm sure of it." Ranma turned to the others. "Let's go." He motioned for Shampoo to direct them.
Shampoo nodded and led the way. Mousse, Ryoga, and Ranma followed alongside her as they walked away from Genma, Akane and Ukyo. Shampoo brought them slightly up one mountain to the rocks where she saw the fire. "Shampoo no understand. Fire right here moment ago." Shampoo scratched her head.
Ranma looked. "It doesn't look like anyone was having a campfire here," he mentioned.
Ryoga looked around. "I don't see anything either."
Mousse sighed. He looked back to where Akane and Ukyo were sitting with Genma and his jaw almost hit the floor. "The girls! Look!" he yelled.
Shampoo, Ryoga and Ranma turned to look where they left the others. "What is that?!" Ranma and Ryoga yelled in unison.
They saw a large, dark, demonic looking figure with a head full of flames, flaming eyes, with a dark, almost black, red body covered in a small amount of dark red smoke while wielding a very large sword, threatening the safety of the people below it as it hovered above them in the air.
"Akane! Ukyo! Pops!" Ranma yelled at them.
Akane and Ukyo heard their names and looked up toward the direction of the voice, noticing that Ranma was pointing up above them while he, Mousse, and Ryoga ran toward them followed a little more slowly by Shampoo. Ukyo and Akane looked up to see the terrifying creature and screamed, grabbing Genma's attention. Genma also looked up toward the frightening being and let out a scream. Genma, Ukyo and Akane immediately got up and ran toward the others. They heard the flaming being above them let out a hoarse chuckle as they fled from under him.
"Ranma Saotome," the being finally said in a very loud and deep voice.
Ranma's jaw dropped as he stood in front of everyone, with his arms out in a rather meager way of protecting the others. The wind was starting to pick up around them, although very warm and not cool like you'd expect of wind.
"What is that, Ranma?" Akane asked.
"I have no idea. I think we're about to find out." Ranma didn't take his eyes off the monster before them. The beast decided to hover closer to the ground, a giant grin on its face.
"What do you want?" Ranma called over to the monster.
"I am Akuma. I have been watching you." The beast told him.
"Why?" Ranma yelled.
The beast just grinned again. "You will find out." The best chuckled again. The beast's body turned to red smoke and then disappeared.
"What was that, Ran-chan? Are we in danger?" Ukyo asked.
"I have no idea, guys. What's Akuma?" Ranma turned to his friends.
Mousse and Ryoga's eyes were stuck in a widened position. "Uh, Ranma. That's the devil." Ryoga informed him.
"What? What would the devil want with me?" Ranma asked.
"No idea. Let's grab the food and eat while we head over to Jusenkyo as quickly as possible. We should keep a lookout in every direction in case he returns. Agreed?" Mousse asked.
Everyone nodded and ran over to where the food was waiting for them. They still needed to eat.
The group were starting to walk slower. It was a tiring trek over to Jusekyo, but Ranma and Mousse started recognizing familiar sights as being closeby. Ranma and Mousse gave each other a knowing nod. "Not much longer now," Ranma reported to the rest of the group, but was met with groaning.
"There! I see it!" Akane pointed, as the springs began to emerge.
"Everyone be careful," Mousse warned as everyone started to pick up speed again.
Shampoo was in front of everyone, excited to find her curse and stop turning into a feline. Mousse was right behind her, followed closely by the others. Akane was nearer to the back of the group, finding herself riddled with anxiety after what happened last time she was in Jusenkyo.
Ranma grabbed her hand and looked her in the eye. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Akane. You're going to be okay. I promise." he smiled at her.
Akane nodded and picked up speed with everyone else.
As they approached the springs, Ranma turned to the group. "We need to find the Jusenkyo guide's cabin so that he can direct us to the Spring of Drowned Man and the Spring of Drowned Girl. I am pretty sure it's this way. Follow me." Ranma directed, as he set off in the direction of the cabin to the East of the springs.
"Here it is." Ranma stated as he approached the cabin. He walked up to the door, and turned to look at his friends to do a quick head count before he knocked on the door.
A little girl with two pigtails held at the top with cute little flowers answered the door. "Welcome, honoured guests! You've returned!" she smiled brightly.
"Hey there, Plum. Is your father around? We were hoping he could guide us to the Spring of Drowned Man and Girl." Ranma explained.
"Father is out tending to the springs. I will be happy to show you the way." Plum posed with a bright smile.
Ukyo looked at Plum. "She's so cute!"
Plum walked outside and to the head of the group. "This way, honoured guests! Welcome to Jusenkyo!"
The group started following Plum through the cursed springs. "First we have Nannīchuan, the Spring of Drowned Man. Very tragic story of man who drown here nearly 1500 year ago." Plum explained.
"Let's go!" Ryoga started to run for the spring.
"Wait! Only go in one at a time. More than one at a time might have dire consequences." Plum warned.
"I'm going!" Ryoga continued and jumped into the Spring. He emerged still a human man. "I think it worked!"
"Get out, Ryoga! Let the rest of us have a turn!" Ranma yelled. Ryoga got out and Ranma jumped in. This is it! I'm finally going to get my cure! Never gonna be a girl again..! Ranma emerged, still a human man. He got out, beaming with satisfaction. Genma waited rather impatiently, but then jumped in the second Ranma was out. Mousse then had his turn. All appeared to be well. Ranma turned to Ukyo. "Splash us! We need to test this out!"
Ukyo smirked. She took off her pack and grabbed a water bottle which she tossed across all four men. Nothing happened. "It worked!" They all cried in unison, laughing in pure joy.
"Plum, can you please bring us to the Spring of Drowned Girl now so that our friend may cure herself, too?" Ranma asked Plum.
Plum nodded.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. The group stopped in their tracks, looking up at the sky. "Uh oh, do you think Akuma is coming back?" Akane asked Ranma.
"I don't know, but stay close." Ranma answered as the group moved closer together.
"What is happening?" Plum asked nervously.
The group then heard a booming laughter as the sky seemed to smoke and Akuma appeared, his sword held into the air.
"What is that? That's the scariest thing I've ever seen!" Plum yelled.
"Well, well, well. Looks like we have some Jusenkyo cured men here." Akuma boomed.
"Yep. So, if that's what you were trying to stop then you are too late, Akuma." Ranma told him.
Akuma laughed. It was a loud, terrifying laugh that echoed through the mountains. "I don't care if you're cured, Ranma. I don't really care about you at all." Akuma told him.
"Then why did you say you were watching me?" Ranma called out to the beast.
"So you can lead me to someone." Akuma told him.
"Who?" Ranma asked.
"Me." Miyuki appeared behind the group, with a thick glow surrounding her. Beside her were Kaze, Arashi, and four others who also appeared very similar looking to Miyuki- three males and one other female. All were radiating the same glow.
"Miyuki!" Ranma said, although confused on whether he was happy to see her or terrified that this beast seemed to have an interest in her.
Akuma laughed some more, the laughter roaring through the land. "Ah, there is the little tennyo. You've been naughty, haven't you? You know what that means." Akuma said.
"I'm sorry, Ranma. You need to get the other humans away from here. Let us handle this." Miyuki told him.
Ranma ran over to Miyuki and took her hand. "Miyuki, what is going on? Why can't we help?" he asked.
"This is a fight that we have been avoiding, but knew was coming. This is why I didn't want to join you on the trip over. I was trying to protect you all." Miyuki told him. "I promise I will find you after and explain. Please, take your friends and find safety."
Ranma stared into her eyes for a moment and saw nothing but desperation and seriousness. "Okay." He turned to his friends. "Let's go, quick!"
The tennin and tennyo moved themselves further to the beast, their battle stances ready.
Ranma got everyone to hide behind a giant boulder, far enough away that they shouldn't be collateral damage but close enough so that Ranma could keep watch.
The celestial battle began, however it was so fast that Ranma's human eyes could barely see them. The sky was still dark and smokey, but the smoke seemed to be moving and they could hear what sounded like almost constant thunder the entire time they were in the air fighting.
After a few minutes of fighting, Ranma saw one body fall from the sky at a dramatic speed and directly into the Spring of Drowned Man. "Kaze!" Miyuki, Arashi, and the others called out to him.
Kaze, now wet, came out of the spring. His glow was gone. His features were dimmed, as if what made him so gorgeous and irresistible had suddenly disappeared. He was still handsome, but now he just looked more like a regular human being.
"Kaze! Oh no!" Ranma yelled.
"What is it, Ranma? What happened to Kaze?" Akane asked, unable to see from her position behind the boulder.
"He fell into the Spring of Drowned Man. It looks like it worked." Ranma told her.
"Oh no! Poor Kaze!" Akane cried.
Kaze was gathering his bearings. He after a few unusual movements, he ran toward the group of his human friends and away from the fight.
"Kaze! Are you okay?" Akane asked when he arrived.
"I don't know. I.. everything looks different. I can't fly. I think.. I'm human." Kaze explained.
"You fell into the Spring of Drowned Man. Your glow is gone. I think it worked, Kaze. I'm sorry." Ranma told him.
Kaze nodded expressionless. He was still in shock from what had transpired. His expression finally changed after a few moments as he came to a realization. "Do you guys have warm water?" He asked.
Ukyo pulled out a thermos. "We usually do, although we only have one cursed friend with us now. Here." She tossed the thermos to Kaze.
"Thanks! I hope this works the same as with you humans." Kaze said as he poured hot water on himself. His glow immediately returned and his skin smoothed, eyes brightened and lips developed more colour. "Yes!" Kaze cheered. He turned to the group. "Thanks, friends. I need to go back and help my siblings." He told them.
"Those are all your siblings?" Ranma asked.
"Most of them. My brothers, Hono, Hariken, and Tatsumaki and our sisters, Arashi and Kori." Kaze told them.
"Yeah, Ryoga and I have met Arashi. You all look so alike!" Ranma said to Kaze.
"Yes. I really have to go help them now. Please keep out of the way. As strong as you are as martial artists, this fight is far beyond anything you could imagine." Kaze said as he flew faster than their human eyes could see back into the fight.
Deep, heavy laughter erupted from the sky again and hot wind blew through the human bystanders and the sky darkened even more.
"Ranma, what's going to happen? What happens if they lose?" Ryoga asked him.
"How am I supposed to know?!" Ranma shot back.
Mousse fixed his glasses. "If tennin and tennyo lose against Akuma.. It can only mean dire consequences for humanity." he said.
"Mousse, you sure?" Shampoo asked.
"No, I'm not. It's only a guess." Mousse admitted.
"Hey! Old man! What do you think you are doing?!" Ranma yelled at his father.
Genma looked over from his position away from the others, trying to hide the fact that he was eating food from the sack. Genma smiled at them nervously. "Didn't want the food to go to waste if the world was coming to an end!" he justified.
Ranma ran over and smacked the food out of his father's hands. They started a back and forth mini war of trying to get the food into their own possession.
"Guys! This is no time for that!" Ryoga yelled at them.
Suddenly, the sky cleared, the temperature dropped and the wind settled.
"What's going on now?" Akane asked no one in particular.
"I don't know." Ranma admitted as he ran back over to his viewing position alongside the boulder. He saw all the tennin and tennyo around the Spring of Drowned Man once again. They were pulling someone out.
"Kaze! Is it safe to come out?!" Ranma called over. Kaze looked over to Ranma. Kaze looked to be in complete distress. He nodded to Ranma.
Ranma motioned to the others to follow him. Who are they pulling out? Who else fell in?
Ranma's eyes nearly popped out with how wide they went as he realized who it was they were pulling out of the spring. "Miyuki!" Ranma ran faster to the group of celestials. Ranma didn't stop as he embraced Miyuki, who was just then getting back on to her feet after being pulled by her siblings out of the spring.
"You didn't change! What's going on? Are you okay?!" Ranma asked.
Miyuki, now drenched, nodded her head. "I don't know. It doesn't work, I guess." she hung her head.
"It worked on Kaze!" Ranma argued. "Although, it's the wrong spring."
"It did?" Miyuki turned to look at Kaze.
Kaze's head hung low. "It did. I was a human man for a few moments." he admitted.
"Then.. does it only work on tennin and not tennyo?" Miyuki wondered.
"That wouldn't make any sense." Arashi argued with confusion.
"This whole thing doesn't make any sense!" Miyuki shot at her sister.
"Where's Akuma?" Mousse asked.
"He.. laughed at us. Then, he said that my punishment for.. Well.. for my behaviour while pretending to be human.. Was going to be self-inflicted and then disappeared." Miyuki explained. "I have no idea what that means. Akuma punishes wrongdoings in humans and celestials, if the celestials are on Earth, that is. This is why I've been unsure if I could stay. We caught wind that Akuma did not approve of how I've been acting. We are held to a higher standard than humans, as Akuma loves to find any reason to punish us. I am in danger on Earth, Ranma. I'm sorry." Miyuki explained the situation.
Ranma hugged her tightly. "No, Miyuki. I need you to stay." Ranma's head nuzzled into her neck, in her long blonde hair, and a tear began to shed. "Don't leave me." he pleaded.
Miyuki returned Ranma's embrace. "I understand, Ranma. I don't want to leave you. I hope to work with my siblings and figure out a way to stop this and be able to stay down here full time. Can you be patient?" She asked.
"As long as that means you come back to me. I can't lose you again." Ranma said, although no one but Miyuki could hear him due to his current position.
Ranma's friends watched the scene unfold, except Akane who looked away for her own sanity.
"I will stay. I need to go home to explain this to our parents, but I will likely be asked to leave." Kaze said.
"What? Why?!" Akane asked.
Kaze smiled weakly at her. "After being cursed, it's likely I may be seen as half human. Those of us who are half human, which has only ever happened from one of us having a child with a human so far in history, are not allowed to stay in the heavens. Half humans are seen as weaker and unable to serve the way a tennin or tennyo should." he explained.
Ranma still had not let go of Miyuki.
"I can see what you've been talking about, sister." One of Miyuki's brothers said as he gestured toward Ranma.
"Yes. He loves her very much." Arashi smiled with a hint of sadness.
Ranma stiffened. Miyuki giggled. "It's okay, Ranma. It's just love. Love is a wonderful thing. You should have many people in your life that you love." she told him as he relaxed back into the embrace he wasn't ready to let go of.
The tennin and tennyo, other than Kaze and Miyuki, gathered together. "We must be going." The sister, identified now as Kori, announced sternly. Kaze turned to her. "We will be right behind you." Kori and the other brothers nodded. They turned and vanished.
"That's amazing!" Ukyo said in bewilderment as she watched the celestials disappear.
Kaze laughed. "They are just flying. We just have a long journey back, so we move with such a speed and use so much divine energy to do so that human eyes can't see us." he explained.
"Wow!" Ukyo said, still stunned.
Miyuki pulled Ranma off of her and held on to his shoulders, looking up into his eyes that were red and watery. "Ranma. I can't stay down here forever as a tennyo and survive. Not changing in the spring means that I don't get to be a human. Between that and the Akuma issue, I have things I need to figure out and I need to be in the heavens to do it. Can you live with that for now?" she asked him.
Ranma shook his head. "Promise me you'll come back. Promise me you'll contact me while you're away so that I know you're okay and know what's going on." he insisted.
Miyuki smiled at him. "I will try to make brief visits, if they are safe. We don't exactly have phones up there." she said.
Ranma sighed and embraced her again, not caring that she already pulled him off.
Ukyo looked over at Akane. "I didn't realize how much Ranma cared about her. I'm so sorry, Akane. This must be so hard for you." she said.
Akane smiled at Ukyo. "It's not my favourite thing to think about, no. At least he's not being a jerk to me anymore."
Shampoo's eyebrows furrowed. After watching the fight, she wasn't about to take on the tennyo in battle. Shampoo was always a confident fighter, but right now she wasn't feeling her strongest. She decided to interrupt. "Shampoo still need Spring of Drowned Girl." she reminded.
Plum finally spoke. "Yes, honoured guest. Right this way and I shall show you the way to the spring you speak of."
Ranma pulled himself away from Miyuki, reluctantly. "Do you have to go right now?" he asked.
Miyuki nodded. "I don't know what's safe for me right now. I will see you soon. I promise." Miyuki smiled weakly and full of sadness. She leaned up toward Ranma, grabbed his face and pulled him into a deep kiss full of passion. Akane and Ukyo looked away, Shampoo frowned and her face twitched, and Plum looked on with hearts in her eyes in pure admiration of the scene. All the men, aside from Genma who sat with his jaw to the floor in disbelief, were unaffected.
Ranma held her hand. "Please. Don't." he said after the kiss was broken.
"I love you, Ranma." Miyuki smiled at him.
"I love you, too." Ranma said before realizing what was coming out of his mouth. Ranma turned a deep shade of red.
Miyuki's smile grew at the admission. "I promise. Soon." she repeated. She looked to Kaze, who nodded. Kaze looked to the group and said, "Goodbye, friends. I shall return soon." Kaze and Miyuki turned and vanished.
Ranma kept his position as if Miyuki was still there. Ukyo walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Ran-chan. She will be back. Let's get Shampoo cured!"
Ranma hung his head for a moment. He then lifted it, looked over to Ukyo with a weak smile and nodded.
The group went to the Spring of Drowned Girl to cure their friend the same way the men had been cured.